News

Several break-ins were reported in the area of Bel Air during the early morning hours of Thursday, May 23.

At 3:42 a.m., a Thames Drive resident called the police to report that his RING security system detected a person trespassing in his driveway. One person was detected on the south side of the house near a Range Rover parked in the driveway. Video surveillance shows that the person realized there was a camera and left the area. Several police officers responded and began to canvas the area, but no suspect was found.

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The need for a municipal theater space and the possibility of a ban on plastic bags were both topics of discussion at the May 22 Township Council conference meeting.

Hugh Mahon, who taught art in the Livingston schools for many years before retiring, asked the Council to help find theater space for the community's theater, symphony and art groups. Mahon is active in many of the organizations, including the Livingston Arts Association and the Livingston Community Players (LCP). He said that the Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Camera Club, Children's Theater, and other groups have indicated a need for space.

Livingston Philanthropies, Inc.’s (LPI) long-time partnership with Livingston’s West Essex Tribune paid additional and continued dividends this week. Barry Shapiro, who is, like LPI’s founder and director, Jeff Friedman, a 1969 graduate of Livingston High School, had been reading at his home in Florida online Tribune pieces featuring LPI. LPI’s work inspired Shapiro to start his own “Studio on 60 Sock Drive” from his framing business in Vero Beach.
“This began because of your efforts,” Shapiro told Friedman. “I’d seen for several years the coat drives and admired what you’d done. After Trish Duffy passed, you had posted something about collecting shampoo and stuff like that,” he continued. “I thought, why not do something to help, and after looking into it, learned that socks are the number one requested item by homeless shelters.”

Livingston UNICO will hold its 33rd annual Dominick A. Crincoli Memorial Sports Awards Breakfast to honor two Livingston High School seniors with the Brian Piccolo Sportsmanship Award. The award is presented annually to two high school seniors, male and female, who best symbolize the character and ideals of Brian Piccolo. Piccolo was a starting fullback for the Chicago Bears who displayed the virtues of courage, teamwork, leadership and dedication both on the football field and in his personal fight against cancer.

UNICO will also present Sportsmanship Awards to six middle school students and the girls’ basketball team.

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Livingston’s 69th annual Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 27. The parade will begin at the Memorial Park Oval and will proceed up South Livingston Avenue, beginning near Town Hall and continuing to Congressional Parkway.

Veterans’ Ceremony

The program will kick off with a veterans’ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Oval in Memorial Park. The service will open with an invocation, followed by remarks from guest speakers.After the traditional laying of the wreaths at thewarmonument,a21gunsalutewill honor fallen veterans and a rendition of Taps will be played.

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On Wednesday, May 15, the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders issued a $1,186,010 contract to APS Contracting to fund Phase 1 of the redevelopment of Riker Hill Art Park. The 42-acre complex, which once housed a Nike missile base, has since been transformed into 38 artist studios for painting, fine metal jewelry, and ceramics.

With this redevelopment funding, county and Livingston township officials believe there are additional uses for the space, specifically passive and active recreational activities.

The resolution comes after the Township Council recently unanimously passed its own resolution supporting these activities at Riker Hill Art Park. Essex County executive Joe DiVincenzo also met with the Council to tour the area in December 2018, when he expressed his commitment to improving the park.

Dr. Matthew Block was unanimously approved as superintendent of schools at the school Board meeting on May 20. His contract will run from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022.

The votes included an “Absolutely!” from Board president Buddy August, who participated electronically as he was unable to be present.

“We proudly appoint Dr. Matthew J. Block to lead our district and provide educational experiences for all Livingston students that will empower all to learn, create, contribute and grow,” president Konner said, referring to the district’s mission in her statement.

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Livingston police this week are investigating a residential burglary; an incident of inappropriate touching; several break-ins and thefts from motor vehicles; the theft of a motor vehicle; and a possession of stolen property incident.

Home Burglarized

On Saturday, May 18, at 8:18 p.m., Livingston Police responded to a residential burglar alarm at a home on Westmount Drive.While checking the house, officers found the back door unlocked. They found muddy footprints leading into the home and up to the bedrooms, and found evidence that an unknown person had rummaged through the bedrooms.

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At its meeting on Monday, May 13, the Livingston Board of Education announced that it intends to approve the hiring of Dr. Matthew J. Block as superintendent of Livingston Public Schools (LPS). The official vote on his appointment will be held at the Board’s meeting on Monday, May 20, after the County approves the appointment.

“After countless resumes and hours of interviews, the Board is glad to announce its intention to hire Dr. Matt Block as the new superintendent,” said Board president Charles “Buddy” August. “I want to thank all my fellow Board members and staff members for the endless hours they contributed to what we believe will be a successful partnership with Dr. Block.”

Today, Thursday, May 16, Block is scheduled to meet with various stakeholder groups in Livingston.

BUDDY POPPIES FOR SALE: The Livingston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2856 is currently selling “Buddy Poppies” to raise funds to help veterans. Shown here, Don Klenke, a member of the VFW and a veteran of the Korean War, sells a Buddy Poppy to Erol Bal and his daughter, Diellza. Since World War I, the poppy has been a symbol of remembering and honoring those who have died in the service of their country. Poppies are made by hospitalized veterans, and proceeds benefit a wide variety of veterans’ programs. Don Schwartz Photo

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